Best way to combine green and productivity? Let workers telecommute
July 23, 2009 by Tom GuayPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Technology
When HR departments jump on the green bandwagon, they’re finding that they get the biggest productivity boost by letting employees telecommute.
Research studies reveal that employees who work from home are 15% to 45% more productive than office-bound workers, according to the Strategic Sustainability Consulting.
Employers not only get more out of their workers, they can claim credit for helping reduce smog and traffic pollution as well as doing their best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to commuting.
The productivity bounce of telecommuting is part of a growing awareness by HR managers that environmentally friendly programs help boost employee morale.
When considering various green initiatives for employees, the number of HR managers who think green programs increase worker productivity has doubled in the past year, jumping from 6% in 2008 to 12% in a 2009, according to surveys conducted by the Society for HR Management.
In addition to telecommuting, employers are encouraging workers to stop driving solo by paying them to take public transportation, carpool, walk and bike to work.
Some of these programs are detailed here.
Tags: environmentally friendly, green HR, producitivty, smog, telecommuting, traffic, web casting
GreenandMore.com
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May 21st, 2009 at 10:55 am
Hi Mr. Tom Guay, Thank you for including my company in this information and all the data related to home homemakers, as well as industry can take an active toll and benefit in the GREEN MOVEMENT.
Our company is just over 25 years old and we specialize in the MOVEMENT & TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT throughout NORTH AMERICA. Most of our current clients appreciate the fact that they can select their mode, via ROAD or via GREEN using RAIL, door to door in either case.
We first started with 100% of all our loads moved via RAIL INTERMODAL SERVICES. Since then we expanded and now utilize over-the-road services on freight that requires SPEEDY DELIVERIES. However, we alway give our clients a choice TRUCK via ROAD OR TRAILER / CONTAINER via RAIL, with truck pick-up and truck delivery on all shipments. Not only does our RAIL service save our clients a large percentage of cost in shipping, but also saves a substantial amount of fuel with every shipment, which I believe is YOUR MESSAGE AND INTEREST.
Since this is an INSTANT REWARD SYSTEM to the user, this may be of interest to you and your members. There is NO membership fees or annual dues.
Please feel free to contact me directly or have any of your associates who are responsible for shipping, e-mail (chet@inconusa.com) or toll free in North America 1-800-377-3331).
Thank you for listening and look forward to hearing your remarks, Sincerely,
Chet A. Biernat, President, INCON Container USA, LTD.
May 21st, 2009 at 11:44 am
Greenhouse gases? I can’t believe you guys still believe that crap.
Why won’t any of your alarmist spokesman debate dissenting scientists? Why has the earth been cooling since 1998? (hint: the sun)
Please…find a new religion and let this one go, and stop guilting and scaring good and decent people.
May 21st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Kevin,
The point of the story is that HR professionals find that telecommuting helps boost employee productivity.
A debate between alarmists on both sides would be rather loud, though I doubt either choir will be converted.
As to global warming, EPA’s well aware of dissenting scientists and their views on global warming. EPA’s of course well aware of scientists around the world who see things differently than you and the dissenters do. The agency’s in the middle of taking public comments on the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Two days of hearings this week went from 9 am to 8 pm. They’re listening to everybody.
Here’s the agency’s proposal to classify ghg emissions as air pollutants. It’s a tough read, but it will give you a detailed idea of what they’re thinking: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/downloads/GHGEndangermentProposal.pdf
You might want to file a comment with the agency and be officially heard.
–tom guay
editor
http://www.greenerworking.com
May 21st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
One thing to remember: If employees are working from home they are still covered by workers comp. I have heard of cases where OSHA has actually went to someones house, after they filed a claim for tripping on the stairs, and wrote alot of tickets.
Alot of things that we can by at the store are not OSHA approved and can get you into alot of trouble.
I like the idea just be carefull.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Tom,
Thank you for your respectful tone and thorough answer. Especially after my aggressive post. You’re top notch.
I read what the EPA is thinking, and still think it’s…um…rubbish. I’m just so impressed that you are a “green” person and are being respectful. Usually those of us who think CO2 is not a pollutant are demonized by anything mainstream or “green.” I’m going to keep reading the emails that come to me from you guys.
Kevin
June 15th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Hey Kevin,
great to hear from you and thanks for the kind words.
–tom
June 15th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Hi Tom and Kevin,
Personally, I am not a tree-hugger, I do however believe it is better to breath cleaner air than the air I was forced to live with when I travelled in bumper to bumper traffic in Pittsburgh, whenever traffic backed up in the “tubes” as the called those tunnels and there were dozens of 18-wheelers filling the air with smoke while we were underground. We as a company promote the use of Intermodal Rail Transportation of trailers and containers within North America (Canada – U.S. & Mexico) and under this economic condition its a WIN WIN situation. Shipper SAVE MONEY and SAVE GREEN HOUSE GASSES. Believe me it’s NOT a religion it’s my job and it saves alot of people a lot of transportation dollars, who may find it competitive to pass these savings on to us the consumers.
Have a great and ship by INCON USA.
Chet